Shrub rose plant named &#39;BAIpome&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of landscape shrub rose plant is provided which abundantly forms on a continuous basis single cup-shaped light soft pink blossoms having a white center. The plant exhibits a compact, tight, and rounded growth habit, glossy medium green foliage, and excellent tolerance to Black Spot and Powdery Mildew. The attractive medium green glossy foliage contrasts nicely with the light blossom coloration. A tough rose plant of small stature and good hardiness is provided. The plant can be grown to advantage as a specimen, border planting, or as a mass planting.

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION

Rosa hybrida

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘BAIpome’

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida landscape shrub rose plant was createdat Yamhill, Oreg. during 1995 by artificial pollination wherein twoparents were crossed which previously had been studied in the hope thatthey would contribute the desired characteristics. The female parent(i.e., the seed parent) was the ‘Noatraum’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No.7,282). The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) also was the‘Noatraum’ variety. The parentage of the new variety can be summarizedas follows:‘Noatraum’×‘Noatraum’.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and plants wereobtained which were physically and biologically different from eachother. Selective study resulted in the identification during 1998 of asingle plant of the new variety having the distinctive ornamentalcharacteristics hereafter described.

It was found that the new variety of the present invention:

(a) exhibits a compact, tight, and rounded growth habit,

(b) abundantly forms on a continuous basis in clusters attractive singlecup-shaped light soft pink blossoms having a white center,

(c) forms glossy medium green adult foliage,

(d) displays excellent tolerance to Black Spot and Powdery Mildew; and

(e) is particularly well suited for growing as attractive ornamentationin parks and gardens.

The young rose pink flower buds open to the light pink blossoms having awhite center that cover the bush throughout the season. The aging petalscommonly detach cleanly and do not detract from the attractiveness ofthe blooms. A tough shrub rose plant having good hardiness is provided.

The new variety is a small stature versatile landscape plant that wellmeets the needs of the horticultural industry. It can be grown toadvantage anywhere in the landscape where attractive ornamentation isdesired. The distinctive blossoms are displayed throughout the season.The plant can be grown as a specimen, border planting, or as a massground cover.

The new variety can be readily distinguished from other varietiesincluding its parental ‘Noatraum’ variety. More specifically, the‘Noatraum’ variety forms much darker pink blossoms with near whitecenters.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation by buddingon an understock and by the rooting of cuttings. ‘Dr. Huey’ rootstock(non-patented in the United States) was used during the budding. Suchasexual propagation by these techniques at Yamhill, Oreg., St. Paul,Minn., and at Phoenix, Ariz. has shown that the characteristics of thenew variety are stable and are strictly transmissible by such asexualpropagation from one generation to another. The new variety grows wellon its own roots.

Initially the new plant was designated ‘95K61-1P’. The new varietysubsequently has been named the ‘BAlpome’ variety, and currently isbeing marketed while using the PINK GNOME and GARDEN PATH trademarks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photographs show as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in a color illustrations of this character,typical specimens of the new variety. The rose plants of the new varietyhad been propagated by the rooting of cuttings, were approximately twoand three years of age, and were being grown outdoors at St. Paul, Minn.and at Yamhill, Oreg.

FIG. 1 illustrates typical plants with blossoms in various stages ofopening and foliage of the new variety. Clusters of the attractivesingle cup-shaped soft pink blossoms with white centers are shown.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close view of typical buds and fully open flowersof the new variety in greater detail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). Common color terms are tobe accorded their ordinary dictionary significance. The description isbased on the observation of two and three year-old plants while grownoutdoors on their own roots during June and July 2002 and 2003 at St.Paul, Minn., and July 2003 at Yamhill, Oreg.

-   Botanical classification: Rosa hybrida, var. ‘BAlpome’.-   Class: Landscape Shrub.-   Plant:    -   -   Height.—approximately 30 cm on average at the end of the            growing season.        -   Width.—approximately 50 cm on average at the end of the            growing season.        -   Habit.—compact, tight, and rounded.-   Branches:    -   -   Color.—young stems: Green Group 138B with highlights of            Greyed-Purple Group 183C. — adult wood: commonly between            Green Group 137B and 137C.        -   Thorns.—size: commonly approximately 0.4 cm in length on            average with prickles on the younger stems. — color:            commonly between Greyed-Purple Group 187B and 187C.-   Leaves:    -   -   Stipules.—generally parallel with the auricle facing            outward.        -   Petioles.—upper surface: Green Group 137B with a center            valley of Green Group 138C. — under surface: Green Group            138B.        -   Leaflets.—number: 3, 5 (most often), and 7. — shape: ovate            with a rounded base and an acuminate tip. — serration:            serrulate. — texture: bears a glossy finish and is            physically firm. — general appearance: medium green with a            glossy surface when mature. — color (young foliage): upper            surface: Green Group 137B. under surface: Green Group 137C.            — color (adult foliage): upper surface: Green Group 137B and            137C. under surface: commonly between Green Group 137D and            138B.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number of flowers.—commonly approximately 18 blooms on            average per cluster on a lateral stem.        -   Peduncle.—Yellow-Green Group 144A with highlights of            Red-Purple Group 59A in coloration, and the length is            approximately 1.85 cm on average.        -   Sepals.—upper surface: Yellow-Green Group 146B fading at the            margin to Yellow-Green Group 144C. — under surface:            Yellow-Green Group 146C fading at the margin to Yellow-Green            Group 145C. — number: 5. — size: approximately 0.6 cm in            length.        -   Buds.—shape: generally rounded. — size: small. — length:            approximately 0.75 cm on average. — diameter: approximately            0.75 cm on average. — color: upper surface: commonly between            Red-Purple Group 58C and 58D fading to Yellow Group 2B at            the base. under surface: Red-Purple Group 58C with some            Red-Purple Group 62A particularly at the veins.        -   Flower.—form: single. — shape: as a shallow cup, generally            round, loosely circular and somewhat informal. The petal            shape and ruffled petal margins sometimes impart an            unbalanced and somewhat irregular appearance to the flowers.            — diameter: approximately 2 cm on average. — color (when            opening begins): upper surface: between Red-Purple Group 62A            and 62B with highlights of Red-Purple Group 63C at the            margin. under surface: Red-Purple Group 62A with highlights            of Red-Purple Group 63C. — color (when blooming): upper            surface: Red-Purple Group 62B blending to White Group 155C            at the center. under surface: Red-Purple Group 62C blending            to White Group 155D at the center. — color (at end of            blooming): upper surface: Red-Purple Group 62D over            approximately 65 percent of the surface and blending to            White Group 155D at the center. under surface: Red-Purple            Group 62D over approximately 65 percent of the surface and            blending to White Group 155D at the center. — color (basal            petal spot): White Group 155A. — fragrance: slight green            apple. — lasting quality: the blossoms commonly last            approximately 5 to 7 days on average depending upon the            temperature and sunlight exposure. — petal number: 5 under            normal growing conditions. — petal shape: heart-shaped. —            petal margins: ruffled. — petal drop: commonly the petals            detach cleanly at full blossom maturity. — anthers:            Greyed-Orange Group 163B in coloration. — filament number:            commonly approximately 58 on average. — filament color:            Greyed-Yellow Group 162A in coloration. — pistils:            approximately 20 on average. — stigmas: Yellow-Green Group            150A in coloration. — styles: Yellow Group 7A in coloration.            — receptacle: separate and free. — hip shape: oval. — hip            length: approximately 1.0 cm. — hip width: approximately            7.0 mm. — seeds: medium beige in coloration, and            approximately 4.0 mm in length.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—vigorous, and compact.        -   Blooming.—abundant and continuous throughout the season.        -   Resistance to diseases.—excellent tolerance to Black Spot,            and Powdery Mildew.        -   Hardiness zone.—U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone Nos. 4 to 9.

1. A new and distinct variety of landscape shrub rose plantcharacterized by the following combination of characteristics: (a)exhibits a compact, tight, and rounded growth habit, (b) abundantlyforms on a continuous basis in clusters attractive single cup-shapedlight soft pink blossoms having a white center, (c) forms glossy mediumgreen adult foliage, (d) displays excellent tolerance to Black Spot andPowdery Mildew, and (e) is particularly well suited for growing asattractive ornamentation in parks and gardens; substantially as hereinshown and described.